Signal printing mechanism



W. A. ANDERSON SIGNAL PRINTING MECHANISM Jan. 24, 1961 Filed Dec. 14,1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOQ WALTER A. ANDERSON Jan. 24, 1961 w. A.ANDERSON SIGNAL PRINTING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1956INVENTOR. WALTER A. ANDERSON United States PatentC) SIGNAL PRINTINGMECHANISM Walter A. Anderson, Trumbull, Conn., assignor to UnderwoodCorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 14,1956, Ser. No. 628,268

11 Claims. (Cl. 235-6018) This application relates to signal printingmechanism for an adding-subtracting machine, and more particularly to ajoint control by various machine elements over the movements of a signaltype bar.

The signal printing mechanism described in this application isparticularly designed for incorporation in the adding machine describedin my co-pending application, Serial No. 556,217, filed on December 29,1955, and titled Actuating Mechanism for Ten Key Adding Machines towhich reference may be made for a further disclosure of associatedmechanisms not described in this application.

In adding machines such as that described in said copending application,it is customary to provide a mechanism for printing on the record sheetvarious signals which respectively denote the various types ofoperations as they are performed by the machine. One of these signalsshould be printed adjacent each numerical item, other than those added,which is recorded by the machine so that upon subsequent inspection ofthe record sheet the operational nature of each of said items may bedetermined.

One object of the instant invention is to provide a novel signalprinting mechanism which is conditioned for operation under the jointcontrol of the function keys and the operation positions of the pincarriage and/or register.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal printingmechanism which is settable to determine the printing of one of at least7 different signals when the machine is cycled by the depression of oneof three functional control keys.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel signal printingcontrol mechanism which is simple and reliably accurate.

Other objects will become apparent as the disclosure progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a right side elevation of the signal printing mechanism andits control elements showing the normal positions of these parts inrelation to the principal parts of the machine,

Figure 2 is a view showing the various signals which may be printed onthe record sheet by the instant printing mechanism,

Figure 3 is a plan view showing a portion of the total and subtotalcontrol means for the signal printing mechanism,

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the total and subtotal controldevice for the signal printing mechanism,

Figure 5 is an active perspective view of the signal type bar controland shows the signal type bar in the add position.

Figure 6 is a right side elevation of a portion of the register controldevice for the signal type bar control device in an active position.

In general the signal printing mechanism comprises a cyclically operatedvertically movable member to which 'ice is pivoted a signal type bar.During each machine cycle said member is positioned so as to selectivelylocate the desired signal type adjacent the printing line of the recordtape. A plurality of notched control levers are selectively positionedto limit the extent of vertical movement of said member. One of saidlevers is operated under the combined control of the pin box and thefunction keys while at least one other of said levers is operated underthe combined control of the register shaft and the function keys.

More specifically and referring to Figure l, the signal printingmechanism comprises a vertically movable member 1 which pivotallysupports the signal type bar 2. This type bar 2 may be impelledrearwardly by a hammer 3 to print a signal on a record tape supported bya platen 4. The construction and operation of member 1, type bar 2,hammer 3 and the actuating member for these elements are the same asthose for the corresponding numeral printing type bars described in theabove noted co-pending case and need not be further explained here.

The type bar 2 has on its rearward face a plurality of projecting spacedsignal type 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 which are vertically arranged in mannercorresponding to that of Fig. 2. The printed signals 7, 8', 9', 16', 11and 12' of Fig. 2 denote respectively a subtraction, a subtotal, atotal, a credit subtotal, a credit total and a non-add operation of themachine. It will be noted that the upper portion 6 of the rearward faceof the type bar 2 has no type element. This portion 6 of the type bar 2will be operatively positioned in alignment with the printing line ofsaid platen 4 when the machine is cycled for an adding operation. Hencewhen any amount item printed on the record tape is not accompanied by aprinted signal, it is an indication that said item has been additivelyentered in the machine. It may be noted that if an addition signal isdesired, a plus sign printing type may be located in the space 6.

A rearward extension of said member 1 carries three stop lugs 14, 15, 16which respectively cooperate with stop shoulders on three control levers18, 19 and 20. During each operation of the machine, one of said stoplugs 14, 15 or 16 will engage a stop shoulder on the associated one ofsaid control levers 18, 19 or 20 to limit the extent of verticalmovement of member 1 carrying type bar 2, thereby positioning the signaltype corresponding to the nature of the machine operation beingperformed at the printing line of platen 4.

The control lever 18 has three spaced shoulders 22, 23 and 24 cooperablewith stop 14 and which correspond respectively to the non-add, subtractand add signal positions of the type bar 2. Said control lever 18 ispivotally mounted on a fixed stud 26 and has its lower arm pivotallyconnected by stud 27, Figure 5, to a link 28 slidably supported at itsforward end on a fixed stud 29. A spring 31 connected to stud 27 biaseslink 28 rearwardly and lever 18 counterclockwise toward the positionsshown in Figure 5. An upstanding lug 33 at the forward end of link 28lies in front of a movable control arm 34 which forms a part of a cradle35 pivoted on a vertical shaft 36. The forwardly extending arm 33 ofsaid cradle 35 is normally held toward the right side of the machine bya pin carriage, not shown and is biased toward the left by a spring 39.Said pin carriage is fully described in said co-pending application.When no item has been indexed in the pin carriage, the arm 33 of cradle35 will be held in its normal righthand position wherein control arm 34of said cradle engages the rear edge of said lug 33 to hold slide 28 inits forward position as shown in Figure 1. As soon as the first digit ofan amount item is set up on the keyboard, the pin carriage releases thearm 38 which will be moved to and held in its leftward position byspring 39. This movement ofarm 38 will rock cradle 35 to move arm 34 tothe rear, whereby slide 28 is freed for rearward movement under theaction of its spring 31, Figure 5. The extent of rearward movement ofslide 28, and hence the rocking of lever 18, will be limited by contactof said lever 18 with stud 14, as indicated in Figure 5. With the slide28 in this position, the upward movement of member 1 will be arrestedwhen lug 14 engages shoulder 24 on lever 18 and this will position theblank space 6 of type bar 2 at the printing position.

When a subtraction operation is to be performed, slide 28 is restoredhalfway toward its initial forward position of Figure 1 by theengagement of a stud 40 with an upstanding ear 41 of slide 28. Stud 40is secured in a subtraction setting slide 42 fully disclosed in saidcopending application. For the present disclosure, it is sufficient tonote that slide 42 is normally held in the Figure 1 position but isreleased by escapement of the pin box to slide on a stud 44 forwardlyunder the action of a spring not shown, to contact a stud 45 secured tothe subtraction key 47. Such contact with stud 45 will prevent aneffective movement of slide 42 but when key 47 is depressed to initiatea subtractive machine cycle, slide 42. will move to its forward limitwherein stud 4!] will contact car 41 to move slide 28 and lever 18 totheir middle position. In this middle position of lever 18, stud 14 willbe arrested by shoulder 23 of lever 18, thereby locating the subtractiontype 7 at the printing position.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, a lever 50 is pivotally mounted on astud 51 in bracket 52 secured to the machine frame. Lever 56 carries astud 49 which has a head engaged above an edge of bracket 52 to supportthe right end of lever 50 which end is rearwardly biased by a spring 53.A stop slide 54 is slidably mounted on a pair of studs 55 in saidbracket 52, and has a downwardly extending lug 56. A spring 57 connectedbetween said slide 54 and lever 50 normally holds slide 54 with said lug56 in engagement with the rearward edge of lever 50. The right end oflever 50 is connected to a depending arm 60 of a bail 61 by a link 59.Bail 61 is pivoted on a fixed stud 58 and has a forwardly extending arm62 which has secured thereto a stud 65 which is engaged in the slottedend of an arm 66 of a cradle 67 pivoted on a shaft 69. The forward endof the other arm 70 of said cradle 67 underlies a pin 72 mounted in arm73 adjustably secured by a screw 74 to the non-add and total key 75.Depression of said key 75 will, through the linkage just described, rocklever 50 clockwise against the action of spring 53 and will yieldablymove slide 54 to its forward position through spring 57.

Key 75 is a cycle initiating key which causes printing of an item set-upon the keyboard but prevents entry of such item into the registermechanism. The lowest type 12 on type bar 2 identifies such non-additems and type bar 2 must be elevated to its highest position to bringtype 12 to the printing line on platen 4. This requires that the lever18 be in its normal clockwise position of Figure 1 during the machinecycle. It will be noted in Figure that when lever 18 and slide 28 arereleased by arm 34, the rear end 30 of slide 28 moves rearwardly toengage the forward edge of lever 50. Depression of the key 75 toinitiate a non-add operation will, as has been described, rock lever 50to the dot and dash position indicated in Figure 3 to reset slide 28 andlever 18 to their Figure 1 position with shoulder 22 of lever 18 inposition to be engaged by stud 14 of member 1 whereby the type bar 2will be in the NA printing position.

During total-taking operations, the pin carriage above referred to is inits home position and keeps arm 38 of cradle 35 in its righthandposition to thereby hold slide 28 and lever 18 in their Figure 1positions. In that no item has been indexed on the keyboard, depressionof the key 95 will cause a sub-total to be printed, while depression ofthe key 75 will cause a total to be printed. The total or sub-total maybe a positive or negative amount, therefore four different signals areneeded. Control levers 19 and 20 and the slide 54 are provided tocontrol the printing of the various total and subtotal signals. Thecontrol levers 19 and 29 are pivotally mounted on pins 77 in the machineframe and are located above said slide 54. Levers 19 and 20 are urgedcounterclockwise and clockwise respectively, by springs 78 and 79,Figures 1 and 4. Lever 19 has two stop shoulders 81, 82 which may beselectively positioned to be engaged by said stop lug 15, as shown inFigure 6, while the two stop shoulders 83, 84 of lever 20 may beselectively positioned to be engaged by the stop lug 16. The levers 19and 20 straddle the laterally movable shaft 86 that supports theregister wheels 87. Levers 19 and 20 are normally urged into contactwith said shaft 86 by said springs 78, 79 respectively whereby one orthe other of said levers will be freed to yieldably follow the forwardor rearward movement of said shaft 86 and move to a position above itsrelated stud 15 or 16.

Formed at the lower ends of levers 19, 20 are feeler stop arms 90, 91respectively. The foot 93 of arm 91 overlies a slot 94 in said bracket52. When slide 54 is in its normal rearward position the said foot 93overlies a slot 97 in said slide 54 while the foot 92 of arm is abovebut forwardly positioned with respect to the end 96 of said slide 54.Thus, when the shaft 86 is displaced to engage the register pinions 87,Figure l, with the actuator racks, the slide 54 will not prevent fulldownward movement of the released one of said feet 92 or 93 and thereleased lever 19 or 20 will be rocked a. sufficient amount to positionthe shoulder 81 above stop lug 15 or the shoulder 83 above stop lug 16depending on whether said displacement of the register is in a forwardor rearward direction. When slide 54 is moved to its forward position byoperation of key 75, a portion thereof will underlie each foot 92, 93,Figure 3, so that when said shaft 86 is displaced as above noted, therocking of the levers 19, 20 is respectively limited by the engagementof the foot 92 or 93 with said slide 54 whereby shoulder 82 will bepositioned above stop lug 15, Figure 6, or shoulder 84 will bepositioned above lug 16 depending again on the direction of saidregister movement.

The operations of the various linkages above described are as follows.If an item is to be additively entered in the machine, the item is firstset up on the keyboard and the add and subtotal key 95 is depressed toinitiate a cycle of the machine. As soon as the first digit of saidamount item has been set up on the keyboard, the resultant movement ofthe pin carriage, as described in said case, releases arm 38 of bail 35whereby spring 39 will rotate bail 35 and move control arm 34 away fromlug 33, Figure 5, to thereby free slide 28 for rearward movement underthe action of its spring 31. The extent of rearward movement of slide 28is limited by the rearward travel of arm 34. This rearward movement ofslide 28 will, through pin connection 27, swing control lever 18counterclockwise, Figure l, to a position where stop shoulder 24 ispositioned in the path of movement of lug 14. During the succeedingmachine cycle the signal type bar 2 will be elevated to a positiondetermined by the engagement of lug 14 with shoulder 24. In thisposition the said blank portion 6 of the type bar 2 will be operativelylocated in front of platen 4 so that no signal will be printed adjacentthe printed item. In the second half of the machine cycle member 1 andthe pin carriage will be returned to their normal positions to engagearm 38 of cradle 35 and through arm 34 restore slide 28 and lever 18 totheir Figure 1 positions.

If an item is to be subtractively entered in the machine, the setting upon the keyboard of the first digit thereof will again free slide 28 forrearward movement. Here lever 18 swings counterclockwise to the sameextent as in the adding operation explained above. However, when thesubtraction key 47 is depressed to initiate the 'machine cycle, the link42 is freed for movement to its forward position under the action of itsassociated spring means at the start of the cycle. Hence, when link 42moves to its forward position it will, through its stud 40 and the ear41, move the slide 28 forwardly against the action of the spring 31 tothereby partially restore slide 28 and to pivot lever 18 clockwise aslight amount so that the shoulder 23 now lies above stop lug 14. Here,after engagement of lug 14 with shoulder 23, the type bar 2 ispositioned with the type 7 located in front of the platen whereupon thesubtraction signal will be printed adjacent the amount item.

If an item is to be non-additively printed by the machine, the settingup of the item on the keyboard will again allow slide 28 to moverearwardly and lever 18 to swing counterclockwise as described above.However, when the non-add and total key 75 is depressed to initiate anon-add cycle, the linkage 73, 67, 61 and 59, Figure 4, will swing lever50 clockwise to engage the extension 30 of slide 28 and move said slide28 forwardly thereby restoring lever 18 to its normal clockwiseposition, Figure 1, wherein shoulder 22 lies in the path of movement oflug 14. During the machine cycle the signal type bar 2 will moveupwardly until stop lug 14 engages said shoulder 22 and said type bar 2will be positioned to print the non-add signal NA on the record tape.During the add, subtract and non-add operations of the machine, theregister wheels 87 are not engaged with either set of actuator racksduring the upward movement of type bar 2, hence shaft 86, Figure 1, willremain in its central position wherein both levers 19 or 20 are retainedin their respective inoperative positions.

When either a subtotal or a total operation of the machine is to bemade, there is no item set up on the keyboard and either key 95 or key75 will be depressed. Depending on whether a positive or a negativetotal has been accumulated, the register wheels 87 will be moved intoengagement with the forward or rearward set of actuator racksrespectively as explained in said above copending application. Slide 28being held in its normal forward position by said arm 34 will retainlever 18 in its normal clockwise position, Figure 1. This will allowlever 19 or 20 to control the extent of upward movement of the type bar2.

If it is desired to take a total from the machine register which, itwill be assumed, has accumulated a positive amount, the key 75 isdepressed. This, through members 73, 67, 61, 59, 50, 56, Figure 4, willmove slide 54 forwardly so that the forward end 96 thereof underlies thefoot 92 of lever 19. Early in the machine cycle the wheel supportingshaft 86 will be automatically moved forwardly to engage the registerpinions 87 with the forward set of actuator racks. Lever 19 under theaction of its spring 78 will yieldingly follow the forward movement ofsaid shaft 86 until the foot 92 of said lever contacts the upper surfaceof end 96 of slide 54. The extent of this rocking movement of lever 19is sufficient to position shoulder 82 in the path of movement of stoplug 15. Subsequent elevation of member 1 until arrested by theengagement of lug with shoulder 82, as shown in Figure 6, will positionthe type bar 2 so that total signal 9, T, is in position to be printedon the record tape.

If a negative or credit amount has been accumulated on the registerwheels, the register wheels 87 will be automatically moved intoengagement with the rear set of actuator racks at the start of atotal-taking operation. Here, the lever 20, under the action of itsspring 79, will yieldingly follow the rearward movement of shaft 86until the foot 93 of said lever contacts the upper surface of the slide54. The extent of rocking of lever will be sulficient to position stopshoulder 84 in the path of movement of stop lug 16 whereby the type bar2 may 6 be positioned to print the credit total signal 11 TCR" on therecord tape.

In subtotaling operations, depression of key 95 will cause slide 54 toremain in its normal rearward position so that when levers 19 and 20 arerocked by the displacement of the register shaft 86, the upper surfaceof slide 54 will not be positioned to arrest downward movement of eitherof said feet 92 or 93.

If a positive amount has been accumulated in the register, the lever 19will follow the forward movement of shaft 86 as described above, and thefoot 92 of lever 19 will move downwardly past the forward end 96 ofslide 54 which is in the position shown by the solid line portion ofFigure 3. This greater displacement imparted to lever 19 will besuflicient to position the stop shoulder 81 in the path of movement oflug 15 and upon subsequent engagement of said shoulder 81 and lug 15during the machine cycle the type bar 2 will be positioned to print thedebit subtotal signal 8 ST, on the record tape. If a negative amount hasbeen accumulated by the register, the shaft 86 is automatically movedinto engagement with the rear set of actuator racks, and the extent ofmovement of the type bar 2 will be cont-rolled by lever 20. Here thefoot 93 of lever 20 will move through the aligned slots 94, 97 so thatshoulder 83 will lie in the path of movement of lug 16 whereby the typebar 2 may be positioned to print the credit subtotal signal SCR.

It will be noted that when one of the control levers 19, 20 isoperatively positioned by the said shaft 86 to arrest member 1 during amachine cycle, shaft 86 maintains the other of said levers in aninoperative position. Also, when the register shaft 86 is in its centralposition as in add, subtract and non-add operations of the machine,shaft 86 retains both levers 19, 20 in their inoperative positions.

The above description of a preferred embodiment of my invention is to betaken as illustrative only and not as limiting the claims to suchdisclosure for substantial alterations in form and operation arepossible without departure from the novel features of the invention asset out in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an adding machine having a movable register, a

. pin carriage movable in response to the actuation of an amount key ofthe machine, a plurality of function control keys and a differentiallymovable signal type bar; the improvement comprising a first and secondstop means each selectively positionable to control the extent ofmovement of said signal type bar, a first control means actuated by themovement of said register for normally operably positioning said firststop means, a second control means actuated by said function controlkeys for operably positioning said second stop means and control 1selecting means actuated by the said movement of the pin carriage foreffectively disabling said first stop means and enabling said secondstop means.

2. In an adding machine having a movable register, a pin carriage,function control keys and a signal printing type bar; the improvementcomprising a first and second stop means each positionable to controlthe extent of movement of said type bar, a first means. actuated inresponse to the movement of said register, for moving said first stopmeans to one of a plurality of operable positions, a second means formoving said second stop said type bar, means actuated in response to theengaging movement of the said register for moving said stop means, apositionable slide, said slide when in one position being effective toarrest said stop means after a partial movement of said stop means andin another position being ineffective to arrest said stop means, andmeans actuated by a function control key for controlling the extent ofmovement of said slide.

4. In a machine of the class described having a register movable intoand out of engagement with a set of actuator racks, a plurality offunction control keys, a differentially movable signal type bar and stopmeans selectively positionable to variably limit the extent of movementof said type bar, the improvement comprising means actuated in responseto the engaging movement of said register for shifting said stop meansto a plurality of operative positions, a slide positionable to determinethe operative position of said stop means and means actuated by one ofsaid function control keys for determining the position of said slide tothereby govern the shifted position of said stop means.

5. In an adding machine of the class described having a plurality offunction control keys, amount indexing keys, a pin carriage movable inresponse to the depression of any of said amount keys, a differentiallymovable sig nal type bar and a plurality of stop means operativelypositionable to variably limit the extent of movement of said type bar,the improvement comprising a first means normally controlled by saidfunction control keys for determining the respective operative positionsof a first group of said stop means, a second means controlled by saidfunctional control keys and the positional condition of said pincarriage for operatively positioning a second group of said stop means,and means, actuated when the pin carriage is moved to its normalposition, for dis abling said first means and enabling said second meansfor subsequent operation.

6. In a machine of the class described having a movable register, aplurality of function control keys, an indexible pin carriage, anddifferentially movable signal type bar; a shiftable control lever forvariably limiting the extent of movement of said type bar, meanscontrolled by the movement of said pin carriage for releasing said leverfor movement away from its normal position and means controlled by saidfunction control keys for determining the extent of movement of saidcontrol lever.

7. The device as defined by claim 6 including a second shiftable controllever for variably limiting the extent of movement of said type bar,means controlled by the movement of said register for shifting saidsecond control lever into one of a plurality of operative positions andmeans controlled by said function control keys for determining theshifted position of said second control lever.

8. In a machine of the class described having a plurality of functioncontrol keys, a register selectively movable into engagement with eitherof two sets of actuator racks, a differentially movable signal printingtype bar, at least two control levers each having a plurality of stopshoulders formed thereon and selectively positionable to variably limitthe extent of movement of said type bar, means for moving one or theother of said levers into an operative position in response to and underthe control of the movement of the said register and means actuated byone of said function control keys for altering the operative position ofthe moved one of said levers.

9. In an adding machine of the class described having a registersele'ctively'movable into and out of engagement with either one of twosets of actuator racks, a signal printing type bar movable to differentpositions for presentation of different signal types opposite a printingline, two stop members associated with said type bar, each movable froman inoperative position to a plurality of select positions to limit themovement of said type bar variably to distinct signal printingpositions, means responsive respectively to the engaging movements ofsaid register with one or the other of said sets of racks to moverespectively one or the other of said stop members from its inoperativeposition for exercising movementlimiting control over said type bar andmanipulative means operatively correlated with said stop members torender each subject to movement by said responsive means to different ofits select positions.

10. In an adding machine of the class described having a registerengageable With actuator rack means in opposite motion-receivingrelations for running respectively negative and positive totals out ofsuch register, a signal printing type bar movable to different positionsfor presentation of different signal types opposite a printing line, twostop members associated with said type bar, each movable from aninoperative position to a plurality of select positions to limitmovement of said type bar variably to distinct signal printingpositions, means responsive respectively to the establishment of saidregister in said opposite motion-receiving relations, to moverespectively one or the other of said stop members from its inoperativeposition for exercising movementdimiting control over said type bar andkey-controlled means operatively associated with said stop members torender each subject to movement by said responsive means to different ofits select positions.

11. In an adding machine of the class described having functionselecting means, a register engageable with actuator rack means inopposite motion-receiving relations for running respectively negativeand positive totals out of such register, a signal printing type barmovable to difierent'positions for presentation of different signaltypes opposite a printing line, two stop members associated with saidtype bar, each stop member having at least two stop shoulders thereonand being movable from an inoperative position to a plurality of selectpositions wherein different of said shoulders are selected to limitmovement of said type bar to distinct signal printing positions,resilient means responsive respectively to the establishment of saidregister in said opposite motion-receiving relations, to biasrespectively one or the other of said stop members from its inoperativeposition toward select positions and means subject to differentialcontrol by said function selecting means to control said stop membersfor movement by said resilient means to different of its selectpositions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,165,340 Butler July 11, 1939 2,186,265. Norton Jan. 9, 1940 2,203,533Landsiedel June 4, 1940 2,280,919 Landsiedel Apr. 28, 1942 2,361,707Pott Oct. 31, 1944 2,468,408 Racz Apr. 26, 1949

